Storage Apparatus for Decorative Elements

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a storage apparatus for decorative items that doubles up as a workstation and flipping tray for flat-backed elements such as rhinestones. The apparatus comprises an open-topped base portion with parallel ridged protrusions running along the bottom at precisely positioned spacing, and is divided into different sections with each section having a respective spacing. Removable dividers and a removable lid allow for flexible and organised storage and transport of the decorative elements to be used, with different sizes of element able to be stored in their respective sections. This increases the efficiency of an artist&#39;s work, prevents items falling out during transit or shaking, and reduces the number of items they must carry with them.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of US provisionalapplication U.S. 63/062,183, filed Aug. 6, 2020.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to storage apparatus. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a storage apparatusspecifically adapted for holding decorative elements such asrhinestones.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the use of decorative elements such as rhinestones toadorn various items and create appealing visual effects has grown inpopularity both with casual hobbyists and with sellers who createartwork pieces by adhering the stones to a base.

The process involves arranging large numbers of rhinestone pieces withflat backs and distinctive colours onto a base. Each rhinestone ispicked up individually, has adhesive or heat applied to the flat back,and is added to the “painting”. Other types of elements can also be usedbesides rhinestones, but these are the most popular.

As each decorative element is small relative to the human hand, theprocess requires a high level of precision and can be slow, particularlyas a large proportion of the elements will be oriented upside down andrequire flipping before they can be used. To counteract this, flippingtrays were developed, which use a number of parallel ridged protrusionswhich are dimensioned such that rhinestones of a corresponding size forthe spacing between protrusions will be flipped into the correctorientation when they are shaken on top of the tray.

While these trays are useful, they leave various problems unsolved.Firstly, trays have uniform spacing between ridges, so are onlyeffective on flat-backed elements of a certain size. Multiple trays arerequired to cover an artist's needs. Furthermore, the trays are small,and thus fail to function as a workspace.

The trays also fail to incorporate any storage mechanism for holdingdecorative elements between sessions, meaning that multiple containersand trays need to be carried around by the artist. ON a similar note,the lack of ability to enclose the interior volume of the trays meansthat decorative elements often spill out during shaking.

It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a storage apparatus for decorative itemsthat doubles up as a work station and flipping tray for flat-backedelements such as rhinestones. The apparatus comprises an open-toppedbase portion with parallel ridged protrusions running along the bottomat precisely positioned spacing, and is divided into different sectionswith each section having a respective spacing. Removable dividers and aremovable lid allow for flexible and organised storage and transport ofthe decorative elements to be used, with different sizes of element ableto be stored in their respective sections. This increases the efficiencyof an artist's work, prevents items falling out during transit orshaking, and reduces the number of items they must carry with them.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there isprovided a storage apparatus for decorative elements, the storageapparatus comprising: an open-topped base portion, an interior volume ofthe base portion having a plurality of straight ridged protrusionsrunning parallel to one another along a bottom surface, wherein the baseportion comprises two or more sections, with each section having arespective spacing distance between ridged protrusions in that section;one or more detachable divider pieces configured to slot into the baseportion to form walls between the one or more sections; and a removeablelid configured to detachably cover the open top of the base portion.

In some embodiments, the base portion of square or rectangular in shapeand has four side walls. The ridged protrusions may run parallel to afirst pair of opposing side walls, and a second pair of side walls mayhave formed therein one or more corresponding indents for receiving andinterlocking with the divider pieces.

The second pair of side walls may also each have three indents formedtherein for separating the base portion into four sections, each sectionhaving a different spacing distance between its ridged protrusions.

Also, the base portion may be configured to slidably receive the lidalong a pair of tracks set into an upper end of the first pair of sidewalls.

In some embodiments, the spacing distance between each ridged protrusionis chosen so as to accommodate standard rhinestone decorative elementsizes.

In some embodiments, the lid comprises a gripping handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an example configuration of astorage apparatus according to the present disclosure with the lidremoved and three dividers inserted.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of an example lid being slidablycoupled to the example storage apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the example storage apparatuswith the lid installed thereon.

FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the dividers being removed fromthe example storage apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of the example storage apparatuswith only one divider installed.

FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of the example storage apparatuswith two dividers installed.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and thedetailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the artwill readily recognize that the above figures are examples and thatother architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, andelements/functions can be provided and implemented without departingfrom the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth inthe claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments toillustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are providedto illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limitedto any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerousalternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by theclaims.

Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, theinvention may be practiced according to the claims without some or allof these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technicalmaterial that is known in the technical fields related to the inventionhas not been described in detail so that the invention is notunnecessarily obscured.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any combinations of one or moreof the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as thesingular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Relationship Between Components/How The Apparatus Works:

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 , various isometric views of an exampleconfiguration of the storage apparatus 100 of the present disclosure areshown.

As can be seen, the storage apparatus provides a large work areacompared to prior art designs, with an open-topped base portion having afront wall 102, two side walls 104, and a rear wall 106. The bottom ofthe base portion 108 has a plurality of ridged protrusions 110 which runparallel to one another and parallel to the side walls 104 in thepresent example.

The ridged protrusions are precisely spaced from one another toaccommodate standard sized flat-backed decorative elements, withdifferent sections of the base portion having different spacing toaccommodate different sizes, such that any shaking actions will causedecorative elements resting between ridged protrusions in theappropriate section will be trapped and flipped into the correctorientation, ready for use.

A plurality of removable dividers 112 are provided that form wallsbetween the different sections. They can be used to keep decorativeelements organised into appropriate sections and removed when the artistdesires a larger workspace, making the storage apparatus a flexibleall-in-one solution. In the present example the dividers slot intocorresponding indents 114 formed in the front wall 102 and rear wall106. As can be seen form FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , the dividers do not allneed to be used at once, and can separate the space into different sizedportions if desired.

These dividers 112 provide a significant improvement compared to priorart solutions, which are limited in their ability to adequatelyorientate a mixture of different embellishment sizes due to the uniformone size fits all spacing of columns.

The extensive work area provided by effectively having multiple flippingtrays combined into one which can be fully utilised when the dividersare removed also increases work time by reducing the amount of reloadsneeded.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , a detachable lid 118 is providedalongside the base portion, allowing the apparatus to be used as both aflipping tray, and organiser, and a storage solution. The lid 118 of thepresent example has a flat profile and sloped sides 118 which slidablyinterconnect with corresponding indents 116 formed into the side walls104 of the base portion. A handle 122 is also provided for a user togrip and facilitate sliding of the lid into place. It will be understoodthat this is merely one example of a detachable lid configuration, andany other suitable lid configuration could equally well be used.

This ability to both store and organise decorative embellishmentsdrastically improves the convenience and portability of the storageapparatus compared to prior solutions. The lid also enables a user toprevent items from spilling out when they are shaking them into thecorrect orientation.

Though not illustrated, to make it easier to empty the apparatus, doorsor a plug can be added to the front of the apparatus to make for easyremoval of embellishments.

The dimensions of the apparatus sections can be reconfigured to allowvarious numbers of embellishments in each section. The orientation/styleof columns can be altered into parallel rows, nested squares, or othersuitable shapes.

How To Make and Use The Apparatus:

To create this apparatus, one may use digital callipers to measurestandard sizes of the type of embellishments to be used. For the presentexample, the components listed in FIGS. 1-6 were modelled usingComputer-Aided Design, then produced using 3D printer. Once the originalis printed, a moulding material may be used to create a cast of theapparatus. Then a reproduction can be done using plastic or resin.

To use the apparatus, one would place a desired amount of embellishmentsin an appropriate section of the apparatus based on the size then insertthe lid into lid guide. Next, one would gently shake apparatus from sideto side to achieve orientation and alignment of embellishments. Onewould then remove the lid and use a pickup tool for embellishmentextraction. For storage or transit, one would insert the lid into thelid guides again to close it.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one havingordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. Whilespecific configurations of the storage apparatus have been described ina specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it isunderstood that the present invention can be applied to a wide varietyof solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. Thereare many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention hereindescribed are merely illustrative of the application of the principlesof the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustratedembodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, whichthemselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage apparatus for decorative elements, thestorage apparatus comprising: an open-topped base portion, an interiorvolume of the base portion having a plurality of straight ridgedprotrusions running parallel to one another along a bottom surface,wherein the base portion comprises two or more sections, with eachsection having a respective spacing distance between ridged protrusionsin that section; one or more detachable divider pieces configured toslot into the base portion to form walls between the one or moresections; and a removeable lid configured to detachably cover the opentop of the base portion.
 2. A storage apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the base portion of square or rectangular in shape and has fourside walls.
 3. A storage apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theridged protrusions run parallel to a first pair of opposing side walls,and wherein a second pair of side walls have formed therein one or morecorresponding indents for receiving and interlocking with the dividerpieces.
 4. A storage apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the secondpair of side walls each have three indents formed therein for separatingthe base portion into four sections, each section having a differentspacing distance between its ridged protrusions.
 5. A storage apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the base portion is configured to slidablyreceive the lid along a pair of tracks set into an upper end of thefirst pair of side walls.
 6. A storage apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the spacing distance between each ridged protrusion is chosen soas to accommodate standard rhinestone decorative element sizes.
 7. Astorage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises agripping handle.